It's that time again - we are getting ready for our BBISD annual retreat.  This year it is at one of our newer inns, Summer Creek Inn, home of Dan and Nancy Evangelisto.  Plans are well underway for the event.  Nancy would like you to let her know, asap that you are coming and if you want a room.  This beautiful inn can accommodate up to 20 people! 

When:  Friday March 26th, starting at 1:00PM, Mountain Time, through Saturday, March 27th noon.
Where:  Summer Creek Inn, just off highway 385 (near Pactola Reservoir, Coyote Blues and Black Forest Inn)
What:  Our annual board retreat.  This year we are encouraging any and all to attend, whether or not you are on the board.  Since our conference was canceled we have unfinished fun to accomplish.

We will have an Irish Dinner (in honor of St. Patrick).  That means Nancy will pop some baker potatoes into the oven, and we will bring toppings for them.  Some examples (but not limited to) for toppings would be salsa, sour cream, chopped chives, creamed chicken, chili, chopped veggies like broccoli, and so forth.  Hopefully this will work ok for the travelers, as they can put anything that needs refrigerating right into the fridge upon arrival.  I have done this type of dinner before and it is fun, and it is very similar to the one Linda Steele was planning for our conference.  Also, Nancy E. said to tell everyone that if they need to prepare something after arrival her kitchen will accommodate up to 15 people working at once (a kitchen to die for).  Saturday breakfast at Summer Creek.  Local area members are encouraged to bring your favorite breakfast dish to share on Saturday (please co-ordinate with Marilyn).  As always, if you'd like to bring some snacks to share during the afternoon, we'd all love it.

Any questions, get in touch with Marilyn Oakes, 605-666-4781, mail@buffalorock.net.  For room reservation email or call Nancy E. at 605-574-2933, 605-574-4408 or  info@summercreekinn.com 

Greetings fellow innkeepers! If your spring is like our spring, you are now awakening to all the stuff you had planned to get done over the winter and didn’t for one reason or another. And that means you are now in high gear with tasks such as painting, cleaning, etc. It is the same here at Buffalo Rock.

The winter has been crummy and so far spring is nothing to brag about. I find it hard to get motivated to do anything that requires poking more than my nose outside. The legislature this year trying to balance the budget has captured my attention a bunch. And that is another thing we all share, trying to make the most of our b and b income. At this year’s Spring Retreat we will be delving into an issue that we have been putting on the back burner for a few years, and that is advertising choices for BBISD. In the past we have done some ads in the Great Getaways, Midwest Living and even some t v spots. Now that we have settled our website plan and know what that is going to cost, we can move forward and consider what other areas we might jump into that would benefit our association. So bring some ideas with you to the Retreat.

Although I haven’t done a serious poll of area inns, it is my gut feeling that advance reservations are looking pretty good, in spite of economic issues our country faces. People are making plans to stay closer to home and going for the best bang for their buck. In SD last year visitation was up in most parts of the state, but dollars spent was slightly down. During the Retreat I think we should be talking some about “packaging”. I’m interested in hearing from you if you have tried any of that and how it has worked for you. Packaging is definitely a trend that the state has jumped on and we see it referenced in the Digital Marketing program that is being introduced. And speaking of Digital Marketing, I would like to hear from you prior to the Retreat if you are interested in us having someone from that program talking to our group about it.

Another issue that is scheduled to be discussed at the Retreat would be classed as Standards, or what minimum services a Bed and Breakfast establishment should be offering. This subject has been brought to me by several members, and I feel we should spend some time discussing it during this retreat. Our bylaws are somewhat vague about it and it is possible that we might want to add some language to them, or not. We also need to select positions for the newly elected board members, as that was not covered in our brief meeting in January.

I am REALLY EXCITED about seeing you all again, soon. As always, we are available by phone or email if you have any questions.

Each year at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism, the luncheon on the second day is sponsored by AAA. For several years now, BBISD has sponsored a table at the luncheon. The cost to sponsor is $75.00 plus the gifts that we provide to the guests who sit at our table. This year BBISD provided BBISD Aprons (draped over each chair) and the newest BBISD Cook Book. Thank you Linda Steele (Eagle’s Nest B & B) and Carla Kaaz (Foote Creek B & B) for providing the props and decorations for the table. And thank you Ila Rumbolz (der Rumbolz Platz B & B) for acting as hostess at our table.

Nancy and Daniel Evangelisto of Summer Creek Inn Bed & Breakfast in Rapid City were interviewed by Eric Gardner of KOTA TV for a spot on his morning show. The spot also aired on the KOTA Evening News. It was a great spot and the food that Nancy served Eric look really yummy!

In an era when economic activity in most other places and most other sectors faltered, South Dakota's travel industry was busy ringing up all-time record sales and many new visitation records at popular tourist stops.  Why?
Super-aggressive marketing by the South Dakota Office of Tourism, private businesses and tourism trade associations -- often working in partnership -- to lure vacationers to our home state. We did not cut back.   We did not let up. And lo and behold, 2009 turned out to be a dynamite tourism year.  Using the 2009 model, we are investing even more in marketing to make 2010 successful.

Here are 5 Good Reasons why the Legislature should not reduce Governor Rounds' proposed FY 2011 budget for the Office of Tourism.

1. Office of Tourism is self-funded by a dedicated tourism sales tax; it draws no appropriation from the General Fund.

2. In FY 2010, Office of Tourism relinquished $2 million to the General Fund, and re-charged its operating funds with extra self-imposed tourism taxes.  A deal's a deal.

3. Overall retail sales taxes in  South Dakota declined 6.2% last year; but tax collections were +8.6% in the tourism sector!  Good news for the Treasury.

4. Two million dollars from the SD Office of Tourism are doubled by private sector matching money, creating  $4 million in State-private partnerships to promote leisure travel to South Dakota.

5. There is an advertising maxim that we shouldn't curtail marketing during an economic downturn.  Stay the course during bad times and we will increase our share-of-market at the expense of our competitors.

We are on a winning track.  Please don't jeopardize that by "economizing" on South Dakota's marketing.  Please don't trim South Dakota's Office of Tourism.  Thank you!

Bill  Honerkamp, President
Black Hills, Badlands & Lakes Association

The Black Hills Playhouse has been in a “fight of it’s life” since last fall when the State Game Fish & Parks Department notified the board that they would not be renewing their ten year lease and would be requiring the board to pay $300,000 for a new septic system on a one year lease. In November the BHP Board filed a lawsuit against GF&P. In January the state brought in inspectors and condemned most of the buildings on the Playhouse site. At that point the BHP Board took their plight to the legislature. The result is a bill that passed the Senate 26 to 8 and the House 65 to 4. Below is a synopsis of the bill:

SB102 extends the lease between the Playhouse and state Game Fish & Parks Commission until September30, 2019, with the requirement that the Playhouse correct building code violations by September 30, 2012. If the violations are not corrected by that date, the lease ends. The bill also requires the Playhouse to use at least 5 percent of its annual operating budget on maintenance and repair of buildings. The state Game Fish & Parks Department must be involved in the maintenance plans. The Playhouse also agrees to share in the cost of replacing infrastructure to operate the facility.  

Minnesota Bed & Breakfast Association Conference is scheduled for April 18 to 20, 2010. Crown Plaza Minneapolis. Room rate is $87.
All members of Bed & Breakfast Innkeepers of South Dakota are invited to the Minnesota Conference at “member” rates. Cost for the conference is $150 for the first person and $130 per person thereafter. There will be more than 8 workshops. The keynote speaker will be from PAII. There will be a vendor show on Monday and an optional tour on Tuesday. Registration can be made on line at www.minnesotabb.org.

1 package 24 Rhodes/Banquet frozen rolls
1 package regular (not instant) butterscotch pudding
3/4 cup pecan halves
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup butter—melted
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Spray the inside of a large Bundt pan or angel food pan. Whatever pan you use, it needs to be deep. Put ingredients into the pan in the order given. Set out ( uncovered ) over night or at least 8 hours room temp. Bake 25/30 minutes at 350 degrees. Sometimes it over flows be prepared, serves 10 to 12. Great for Innkeepers since it can be set up the night before! Enjoy!!